JIYEON

I was lounging around my apartment, I was bored, and honestly I really wanted to call Insoo but I wasn't ready to face him yet. I was second guessing my decision to not tell him, I mean I wasn't going to tell him now but had I made the right choice?

My phone started ringing for the third time this morning, I figured it was probably Insoo again - I'd already ignored him twice. It's not that I didn't want to talk to him, because I really did but if I answer and he wants to do something I'm going to say yes and the minute I see his face I'm going to want to tell him. I know that if or when I tell him he's going to leave me and I seriously don't think I could handle that so I will just keep my distance until I can be around him with out worrying about telling him the truth.

'Eunji' was written across the screen. I sighed and answered it.
"Hey,"
"Hey, I know you're super busy studying and that but can you take a small break? Just for like an hour or two? I just had dance practice with Kwangmin if you could even call it that and I need some sister time," she pleaded.
"Yeah, sure,"
"Really?" her mood perked up.
"Yeah, I'll just get changed and come meet you at the university,"
"Thank you,"
"It's no problem," honestly I could do with the distraction.

I got up looking in the mirror, I didn't really feel like getting changed and there wasn't necessarily anything wrong with what I was wearing; black shorts, a plain grey tee shirt and one of Insoo's button up shirts. I shrugged grabbing my bag and walking out of the house sliding on a pair of high tops.

***

I walked down the street towards the university where Eunji was waiting for me, Kwangmin seemed to be waiting with her, or maybe it was Youngmin - I can never tell those two apart.

Judging by Eunji's facial expression it was probably Kwangmin unless Youngmin had upset her recently and I didn't know about it. I had kind of been M.I.A recently.

"You're here," Eunji smiled standing up.
"I told you I wouldn't be long," I nodded frowning at Kwangmin.
"You remember Kwangmin," she sighed.
"I didn't know he was coming too?"
"He's not,"
"No I'm not, I was just seeing if Eunji was free for dinner," he smiled.
"She's not," I shook my head.
"Oh, why not?"
"You wanted to know if she was free, she's not. That's all you need to know. Let's go," I looped my arm through hers and directed her back down the street.
"You didn't have to be rude," she frowned.
"Did you want to have dinner with him?"
"Well no,"
"Then you're welcome,"
"You still could have been nicer about it,"
"You're too nice about it," I gave her a small smile.
"I guess,"
"So what did you have in mind for our sister date?"
"Retail therapy sounds good," she shrugged.
"Okay, let's go,"

EUNJI

We were in the middle of clothes shopping when her phone started ringing, she looked at the screen and chewed on her bottom lip for a minute before ignoring the call.

"It was just Insoo," she shrugged sliding her phone back into her pocket.
"You're ignoring his calls?" I frowned.
"No, well yes but if I answer now and he knows that I went out with you when I said no to going out with him he'll get mad or upset, if I don't answer he'll just think I'm studying.
"You know he's been nothing but mopey, whining around the house, I'm not sure what he misses more, you or your cooking," I joked, well kind of, when he wasn't whining about her having to study he was whining about wanting her food.
"I would go out with him, but then he becomes a distraction and I forget about studying," she sighed.
"You really like him, huh?"
"Yes," she nodded seriously.
"Would it really hurt to let him distract you for a few hours?"
"Exams are over in a week, it would be better to not be distracted right now, I don't mean to make it hard for him," she appeared to feel guilt about it.
"I'll just come and get some side dishes out of your fridge, that should distract him for a little while," I gave her a small smile.
"Okay," she nodded.
"Here what about this?" held up a dress with a black skirt and floral bust, honestly it was to get a reaction out of her so she would cheer up a bit but she kind of looked at it for a moment then nodded.
"I'll try it on,"
"What?" I frowned at her.
"It's not that girly," she shrugged.
"Okay," I said slowly before handing it to her in her size.
"Thanks,"

***

We finished in the store and went to get some lunch at a small cafe. Jiyeon was worrying me a little, she was acting a little out of character. I mean to be fair I was basing this on the fact she bought some girly clothes and ignored the four calls Insoo made to her. But it was still unlike her, I guess maybe she's stressed?

We sat down at our table that was near a window, we were half way through our meal well I was, Ji had barely eaten, when she got a strange look on her face, she's been staring out the window for the past five minutes. I was about to ask what she was looking at when she turned back to me.

"Do you feel like doing something spontaneous?"

SEYONG

I walked into the dinning room looking for Insoo who was sitting at the table using his arm as a pillow staring at his phone with a pouty expression.

"What are you doing?"
"Nothing," he sighed not looking away from his phone.
"Okay, do you want to get a drink or two? I'm bored,"
"No," he sighed again still not looking up.
"Has she still not called? Is that why you're so mopey? What are you? A woman?"
"She's probably busy, or maybe her phone died and she lost her charger, maybe someone stole it," he mumbled.
"Man up," I frowned at him.

I hadn't seen him like this in a long time, the last time he was mopey was probably when we were kids and it was definitely not because of a girl. When did he get so attached to her?

"Why wont she call me? Did I do something wrong?" he frowned talking to himself.
"I think if you did something wrong, Jiyeon would definitely let you know about it,"
"Yeah, you're probably right,"
"She told you she was studying, exams are stressful, we barely had time to sleep when we were doing ours. Maybe she turned her phone off because you kept calling her and interrupting her," I shrugged.

He made a growing noise like a child that doesn't want to go to bed yet and slid his arm off the table, turning his head so he was now staring at the table instead of his phone.

"What is wrong with you right now? She'll call when she wants to talk to you, there's no point whining while you're waiting,"

He just whined again this time stomping his foot.

"Really mature, are you sure you're old enough to be dating?"
"Go away," he muttered.
"Fine, mope like a child," I rolled my eyes

JIYEON

Maybe a revamp wasn't such a bad idea, a little change might do me some good. A few new clothes, maybe a change of hair too. There was a salon across the street from the little cafe we were in, I spent a few minutes contemplating the idea before turning to Eunji.

"Do you feel like doing something spontaneous?" I raised an eyebrow at her.
"Like what?"
"Do you want to go get our hair done?"
"Are you okay?" she asked after a moments silence.
"I'm fine," I nodded.
"Are you sure? You're acting a little weird,"
"I just feel like a bit of a change, that's all. If you don't want to that's fine, I can do it on my own. I just thought we hadn't been to the salon together in a while," I shrugged.
"I guess I could do with a little trim," she nodded with a sigh but the concern never left her face.
"Great, let's finish this and go,"

My phone buzzed in my pocket, I pulled it out to find a new message from Insoo, I sighed opening it.

Hey, sorry I know you're busy studying I didn't mean to call so much. You've probably turned your phone off by now, ha ha. But I was thinking about bringing you dinner over so you don't have to cook and take time away from studying. I won't stay, just drop it off and go. If that's okay with you?
-Insoo

I was going to ignore it, then I was going to message him back but instead I found myself calling instead. I guess I was being too harsh with ignoring his calls.

"Hey," he sounded kind of sad.
"Hey, sorry I hadn't heard my phone ringing,"
"It's okay, I didn't mean to ring so much. Are you still studying?"
"I was, but Eunji rang and really needed some sister time. Kwangmin was being a dick so I'm spending a few hours with her then I'm going to try and make up for lost time,"
"Oh, okay, so it wouldn't be a good idea to bring you dinner over then?"
"Probably not, I'll eat while I'm out though and I'll call you later,"
"Okay, well I'll let you go enjoy your sister date. You should take home some take out in case you get hungry while you're studying and don't stress yourself out too much," the guilt was beginning to become overwhelming with him worrying about me.
"I'll be fine mum," I tried to joke,
"Bye,"
"Bye," I hung up.

EUNJI

She got off the phone and kind of waited for me to finish eating not really touching her own food. She just kind of pushed it around her plate.

"Are you not eating?"
"I'm not hungry," she shrugged.
"You just told Insoo that you'd eat,"
"I'll buy something on the way home," she nodded.
"Okay," I put my chop sticks down.
"Let's go then" I grabbed my bag.
"You can finish eating,"
"I'll eat on the way home,"
"Where did you learn that," she frowned at me.
"You, your choice. We can eat now or later," I shrugged.
"Honestly I'm not hungry right now,"
"Later it is," I stood up, two thirds of my plate was empty and I was pretty much full anyway but I wasn't going to tell her that. She'd just go home and study otherwise and then she'd forget to eat something.
"Eunji," she sighed.
"Let's go," I pulled on her arm.

We were seen to the minute we walked into the salon, that sat us next to each other and asked what we wanted done.

"Just a little off the bottom, maybe a few layers," I said.
"Why not do something completely different?" Jiyeon asked me.
"Like what?" I frowned.
"I don't know, it's your hair,"
"What are you doing?"
"I'm going blonde,"
"Blonde?" I frowned again.
"Not yellow blonde, kind of light brown - dark blonde," she shrugged telling both me and the hair dresser standing behind her.
"I'll get you our color chart and you can show me exactly what color you'd like,"
"Did you still just want a little trim?" the lady behind me asked with a friendly smile.
"Go on, live a little," Jiyeon encouraged.
"Do what you think will look good," I let out a breath after chewing on my bottom lip for a while, I did kind of want a change I just didn't know what to do.
"Are you sure?" she frowned.
"Yes, you have complete control, just don't shave me," I nodded - what am I doing?
"And you're worried about my behavior?" Jiyeon raised an eyebrow I just ignored her.
"So," the lady breathed out sounding as nervious as I felt.
"I'm Shin, by the way," she introduced herself.
"Eunji," I gave her a small smile.
"I'm thinking we darken the color slightly, but a few highlights and low lights through, maybe give it a burgundy ting," she paused so far I liked the sound of it.
"And cut it to here," she pointed just below my shoulders, the shock must have shown through on my face.
"Unless you're not okay with that," she panicked.
"No, uh. No that's fine," I nodded.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes,"
"I'm sorry, I have to make sure that you're positive and that you're not going to change your mind, before I do anything,"
"No, you're free to proceed,"

***

"So, your runway's this weekend," I mentioned as Shin finished washing the color of my hair and started towel drying it, she'd been so nervious, apparently this was only her 3rd week working full time.
"Yes," Jiyeon nodded.
"Are you excited?"
"I'll be excited for it to be over,"
"Oh come on, is there really nothing you've enjoyed? I've seen the photos and they're amazing,"
"How have you seen them?" she frowned.
"The photography made copies for Insoo, the one of you sitting against the bike is his phone screen saver," I shrugged.
"I don't even have copies yet," she frowned.
"The photographer mentioned giving them to you after the runway," and by that I mean he's making you a model portfolio.
"So there's not one aspect that you enjoyed?"
"Honestly? I kind of like the whole modeling thing," she nodded,
"Did you consider it as a career path?"
"And deal with whiny designers or other models who are all depressed or tired because they refuse to consume any food?" she raised an eyebrow.
"I'm sure they're not all like that,"
"Maybe not but no one is forcing me into something pink and floral,"
"You're so stubborn, why can't you just admit you want to do it but are worried you wont be able to?"
"When did you get so observant?" she playfully glared at me.
"Honestly, I think you would be amazing at it,"
"Are you sure you're okay with cutting it this short?" Shin asked once more.
"Cut away, hair grows back," I nodded.

JIYEON

"Are you happy with it?" I raised an eyebrow at a now short haired Eunji.
"Yes actually," we were on our way back to my apartment, Eunji decided she was going to stay and cook for me, I figured if I just let her she'll be happy.
"What are you doing?" she frowned at me when I turned down a side street.
"Something," I continued walking, she frowned but followed me anyway.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" she stopped walking staring at the door I was about to walk into.
"Probably not, but I'm doing it anyway," I shrugged and entered the building, she sighed and followed.
"I think you should think this through before you go getting a tattoo," she frowned.
"Why? It's only going to be on my body for the rest of my life,"
"Exactly," she raised an eyebrow.
"If you don't want to stay you're free to go, but I'm going to get a tattoo,"
"Why?" she asked, honestly I didn't know the answer. I just felt like I should get something to remember the life that I was growing, maybe it was closure for me, maybe it was so I didn't feel so guilty all the time, maybe so I felt like I'd actually done something other then kill a life before it had the chance to live. What ever the reason it was something that I needed to do, but I couldn't tell her that so instead I shrugged.

"I just want to,"
"It's not going to be huge is it?" she sighed backing down.
"No, you wont even see it,"

EUNJI

She was wondering around the kitchen in boxer shorts and a cropped top, she'd rolled the top of her shorts down to sit bellow her hip bone so it wasn't irritating her newly finished feather tattoo. I was going to cook for her but she said she wanted to cook something for Insoo anyway.

"He's still going to mope around the house,"
"Well he can mope quietly," she shrugged.
"Or you could call him and spend an hour with him,"
"There are three days until the showcase and the end of my essay exams it would be better if I focused on studying until then," she shot back.
"Why are you doing your exams early?" I frowned.
"Maybe you're doing them late. I don't know. Maybe because they're different course?" She shrugged.
"I guess,"
"When are yours?"
"Two weeks, well next week is study week then exams are the week after,"
"Coffee binge?" She raised and eyebrow.
"Probably,"
"You should avoid talking to anyone then,"
"Why?"
"No one will understand a word you're saying,"
"Do I really talk that fast?"
"You manage to make a sentence of ten words into one really long word," she nodded.
"Ow!" She hissed as she bumped her side.
"Are you worried you'll regret it?"
"No, I'm a little worried about Insoo's reaction to it through," she frowned.
"I think he'll like it,"
"Yeah?"
"It's small and cute though he'll probably think it's sexy,"

JIYEON

I hadn't really thought about what he would think of it, I hadn't really though about it too much at all to be honest it was just something I had to do when I saw the sign. I guess I may have been a little too impulsive. I don't regret it though, it wasn't huge and it was somewhere no one would see unless I showed them.

"Do you want to eat here or take it home and eat?" I asked casually,
"I'll eat here, unless you need me to leave so you can study?"
"You're already here you may as well eat," I shrugged.

EUNJI

I got home and almost walking into Seyong as I entered the front door. He grabbed my shoulders to stabilize me so I didn't fall which I was thankful for considering I was holding a container of hot soup.

"Thanks," I gave him a small smile, he was frowning at me.
"What?"
"You changed your hair," he realized he was still holding my shoulders and quickly let go.
"Just a little," I nodded, he continued frowning.
"Does it look bad?" I frowned this time.
"Oh, no. It looks nice," he shook his head.
"Uh, thank you,"
"You know we have a kitchen to cook in?" he joked looking down at the container.
"I didn't cook it, Jiyeon did,"
"Oh good, I miss her food,"
"It's not for you, it's for Insoo. And I didn't think my cooking was that bad,"
"Oh, no it's not I just," he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Insoo's on the lounge moping," he pointed to the lounge room before retreating up the stairs.
I just nodded walking through the house, I places the contain on the bench with the bag of side dishes before walking through to the lounge room, Insoo was lying face down on the lounge.

"Are you hungry?" he mumbled something into the lounge.
"I can't hear you,"
"I guess," he sighed rolling over.
"Jiyeon sent you food over,"
"Really?" he perked up a little.
"I think you have an unhealthy attachment to her food," I joked.
"She's a good cook," he shrugged.
"Come on then," I gestured for him to follow me.

I started unpacking side dished and put some soup into a bowl placing it down on the counter, he sat on a stool on the other side.

"How did she seem?" he asked as I gave him a bowl of rice and some chopsticks.
"A little stressed," I shrugged, I was't exactly going to tell him that she changed her hair and impulsively got a tattoo.
"She'll be better after the showcase on Saturday,"
"Okay," he nodded eating quietly.

Notes